Paul Stoetzer

AMSAT News Service

ANS-214
August 2, 2026

In this edition:

• Expedition 74 Crew Returns to Earth After 241 Days in Space
• Voting Continues in 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election
• MARMOTSat Designated Canada-OSCAR 128 (CO-128)
• ARISS Selects 13 U.S. Organizations for Fall 2026–Spring 2027 Contacts
• New Tracking Programs Released
• HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Parties Target the Perseids
• IARU Region 1 Conference Papers Address Satellite Spectrum Issues
• Recent IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Activity
• New Satellite Distance Records Claimed on AO-7, AO-123, and SO-125
• Zero Retries Digital Conference 2026 Issues Call for Technical Papers
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 31, 2026
• ARISS News
• AMSAT Ambassador Activities
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

Expedition 74 Crew Returns to Earth After 241 Days in Space

NASA astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev are safely back on Earth after 241 days in space. The trio landed in their Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft on the Kazakh steppe southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Sunday, July 26, wrapping up their service as members of Expeditions 73 and 74 aboard the International Space Station.

Soyuz MS-28 undocked from the station’s Rassvet module shortly after 0700 UTC and descended under parachute to a touchdown at approximately 1026 UTC, about three and a half hours later. Over the course of the mission, the crew orbited the Earth 3,856 times and traveled more than 102 million miles. The spacecraft launched and docked with the station on November 27, 2025 – Thanksgiving Day in the United States. The flight was the first for Williams and Mikaev and the second for Kud-Sverchkov, who has now logged more than 426 days in space.

Before departure, Kud-Sverchkov handed command of the station to NASA astronaut Jessica Meir in a change-of-command ceremony on Saturday, July 25, marking the transition from Expedition 74 to Expedition 75, which formally began at undocking. Seven crew members remain aboard the station.

Amateur radio was part of Williams’ final week in orbit. On Friday, July 24, just two days before returning home, he completed an ARISS telebridge contact with students at the Payload Operations Integration Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. In keeping with standard safety protocol, the ARISS radios aboard the station were powered down on July 25 in support of the Soyuz undocking, with service scheduled to be restored on July 27.

Following post-landing medical checks, recovery teams transported the crew by helicopter to Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where Williams boarded a NASA aircraft bound for the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

[ANS thanks NASA and Space.com for the above information]

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites. The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026 membership year.

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email. JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/ (Remember! Students join for FREE!)

New Tracking Programs Released

Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, and Carsten Groen, OZ9AAR, have each released tracking software packages this week.

OscarWatch

MM9SQL’s OscarWatch Tracker is now officially out of beta with release 1.0.0. This release features comprehensive FlexRadio SmartSDR integration, expanded HF satellite support, smarter dual-radio tuning, and refreshed user interface layouts. The program interfaces with Yaesu GS-232B, SPID, EasyComm, SAEBRTrack or URC rotor controllers and with Peter’s Cloudlog logging program.

OscarWatch Tracker now fully supports satellite operations for those using FlexRadio SmartSDR with transverters. The release now includes band & panadapter swapping, independent centering of panadapters, band-specific antenna port mapping adding configurable VHF and UHF antenna routing of RX_A/RX_B and transmit antenna assignments, and mode & CTCSS guard rails for FM passes.

OscarWatch now also includes Icom IC-7300 dual-radio support allowing operators to run AO-07 Mode A with 10m HF downlink tracking on the IC-7300 paired with a separate VHF uplink rig. There is also corrected band coverage fixes for the Icom IC-706 series, including 70cm capability for the IC-706MKIIG. In addition, verified 10m HF downlink capability is now incorporated for the Yaesu FT-817 and FT-818 platforms without software band restrictions.

Smarter dual-radio tuning and rig controls have been added, so that those using an SDR for downlink can now automatically sync a separate uplink radio, mirroring the behavior of single-radio Main/Sub tracking in both Normal and Reverse tracking modes.

Various bug fixes and enhancements for handling of Icom 9700 and Kenwood TS-2000 radios, and cosmetic changes to the on-screen display are also incorporated into this first official release of OscarWatch. The program and complete change log may be downloaded from https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker/releases/tag/v1.0.0.

SatTrack

OZ9AAR’s SatTrack is limited to control of the ICOM IC-9700 and some other ICOM radios like IC-910, IC821H and IC-706. It supports Yaesu GS-232B, PstRotator, or URC rotor controllers, and interfaces with N3FJP’s ACLog logging software.

Version 1.0.1.14 now includes support for the new General Perturbations Data in JSON format. There is also an improved internal satellite trajectory/rotor movement planner, for better better utilization of min/max azimuth limits and 180 degree elevation control.

This release also adds a “Simulation” menu that can preview passes and allow the operator to experiment and test the application without moving the antennas. Complete information and program download are available at https://www.moonbounce.dk/hamradio/sattrack.

Both programs are currently free to download with donations to the authors greatly appreciated.

[ANS thanks Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL and Carsten Groen, OZ9AAR, for the above information]

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HamSCI Meteor Scatter QSO Parties Target the Perseids

The HamSCI citizen-science community is continuing its 2026 series of Meteor Scatter QSO Parties (MSQP), with the Southern Delta Aquariids event running July 29-31 and the marquee Perseids event scheduled for August 12-14. A final 2026 event will coincide with the Geminids meteor shower on December 13-15.

Part special event and part contest, the MSQP aims to generate a large body of contact and reception data to better understand meteor scatter propagation. The effort, originally proposed by HamSCI member McKenzie Denton, KO4GLN, is particularly timely: recent FCC rule changes now permit U.S. amateurs to operate the MSK144 meteor scatter mode on 10 meters, allowing researchers to investigate a key question – which band is better for meteor scatter, 6 meters or 10 meters?

Participation is open to both two-way (transmit and receive) and monitor (receive-only) stations operating from fixed locations. MSK144 is the only mode used, with 50.260 MHz and 28.145 MHz being popular operating frequencies. Stations equipped for both bands are asked to alternate between 6 and 10 meters at 20-minute intervals (xx:00, xx:20, xx:40). Monitor stations should report their decodes via PSKReporter, and all participants are encouraged to submit ADIF logs and WAV recordings of decoded pings after each event to support the research effort. Electronic certificates are planned for participants, and first-time meteor scatter operators are encouraged to self-report their “rookie” status so they can be recognized in the results.

Complete rules and information are available at https://hamsci.org/msqp

[ANS thanks HamSCI and Amateur Radio Newsline for the above information]

The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now Here! Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

Annual memberships start at only $120

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

IARU Region 1 Conference Papers Address Satellite Spectrum Issues

Papers for the IARU Region 1 General Conference, being held in Vienna, Austria, September 19-23, 2026, are now available online, and several are of direct interest to the amateur satellite community.

Among the papers in the VHF+ (C5) section is VI26_C5_11, “UHF Spectrum Situation,” submitted by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), which addresses AST SpaceMobile’s use of amateur spectrum. In April, the FCC announced that AST SpaceMobile (AST & Science, LLC) will be using the amateur 430 MHz band for 248 satellites in its planned low-Earth-orbit constellation, which aims to provide global cellular broadband communications. Center frequencies are 430.5 MHz, 432.3 MHz, 434.1 MHz, 435.9 MHz, and 439.5 MHz, each with 50 kHz bandwidth.

Another satellite-related paper is VI26_C3_45, the report of the ARSPEX Working Group, a specialised body of IARU Region 1 for Amateur Radio Space EXploration.

The full set of IARU-R1 Conference papers may be found at https://conf.iaru-r1.org/documents/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]

Recent IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Activity

Every satellite intending to transmit in the amateur-satellite service bands is asked to obtain frequency coordination from the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) before launch. The IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel reviews each application, checks the proposed frequencies against band plans and other coordinated missions, and recommends frequencies intended to minimize mutual interference. The running status of applications – new and updated requests, completed coordinations, and declined requests – is maintained on the AMSAT-UK-hosted status pages at https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/index.php

July proved to be a busy month for new applications. A full review of the panel’s status pages at the end of the month shows activity on eight entries, all on the “formally requested” (in process) list: seven applications newly appearing during the month and one update to a pending request. No coordinations were completed during July – the most recent completion on the pages remains VemanaReddySat of India’s Vemana Institute of Technology, coordinated June 3 – and no requests were declined, with the declined list unchanged since early February.

• Slipper2Sat-2 – Antarikchya Pratisthan Nepal (applied June 16, posted July 2). A 1U CubeSat for disaster assessment whose primary payload is an array of four PNI RM3100 magnetometers intended to detect fluctuations in Earth’s magnetic field for earthquake-precursor research, with the measurements downlinked on amateur frequencies for operators, students, and researchers to receive, decode, and upload to a shared community dataset. The satellite also carries near-infrared and RGB cameras for Normalized Difference Water Index analysis of surface water – an onboard AI algorithm filters out cloud-obscured frames, and selected images will be broadcast in roughly 24-hour periods over the amateur downlink – along with an AX.25 digipeater and magnetorquer-based attitude control. The responsible operator is Sajan Duwal, 9N2SJ.
• Skylark – Western University Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, London, Ontario (applied July 1). A 3U CubeSat flying under the Canadian Space Agency’s CUBICS program, Skylark will collect space-based data on migratory songbirds, waterbirds, and shorebirds by communicating with MOTUS wildlife-tracking transmission units using student-developed amateur radio hardware, extending the MOTUS network while giving students hands-on experience in mission operations and CubeSat design. The spacecraft will carry an AX.25 telemetry beacon receivable by amateurs, and the team plans to collect request messages through a publicly accessible form and transmit them from the satellite at the end of ground station passes as time permits. The responsible operator is Jayshri Sabarinathan, VA3OSR.
• UNNE-1B (aka HADES-E2) – AMSAT-EA (applied February 2, updated July 14). The lone update to a pending application this month reflects another launch change: originally manifested on SpaceX’s Transporter-17, the 1.5P PocketQube is now planning a ride on Transporter-18 in October 2026, with the launch brokered by UARX. UNNE-1B uses the same hardware and software as the original UNNE-1, which still awaits an RFA launch from the UK, and is intended to replace the FM repeater service of SO-124 and SO-125, both expected to decay, since HADES-SA (SO-127) supports only digital transmissions. The satellite offers an SDR-based V/U FM and FSK repeater, opened by squelch level with no tone required, plus FSK digital modes at 50-1200 bps, telemetry up to 1600 bps, a CW beacon, and a CODEC2 digital voice message. AMSAT-EA has announced operating frequencies of 145.925 MHz up and 436.888 MHz down, matching UNNE-1. An educational payload from Universidad de Nebrija in Madrid will send one clue per week in the telemetry as part of a student-built guessing game for amateurs to solve.

Five more applications were posted on July 27, all submitted within a two-day span:

• UTNH-SAJILO-SAT (SanoSat-3) – AMSAT Nepal (applied July 26). The follow-on to SanoSat-1 (Nepal-OSCAR 116) and SanoSat-2, SanoSat-3 keeps the same core mission while swapping the permanent magnet for a magnetorquer-based active detumbling system using the B-dot algorithm. Its primary mission is an amateur digipeater allowing operators to upload short messages for retransmission to all stations in the footprint, joined by a 5-megapixel camera downlinking images as SSDV packets via GFSK, a Morse code identification beacon, and a deployable solar panel demonstration using a custom hinge design. Telemetry and digipeater traffic will be openly available through the SatNOGS network. The responsible operator is Jiten Thapa, 9N1JT.
• HADES-L – AMSAT-EA (applied July 26). An experimental 10 x 5 x 5 cm PocketQube averaging just 175 mW of power generation, HADES-L pairs an unusual uplink with a familiar downlink: its communications transponder proposes an uplink at 28.472 MHz USB with 3 kHz bandwidth – the filing notes that a 29 MHz uplink is uncommon in amateur satellite work and is one of the mission’s main challenges – or alternatively 145 MHz, with a 436.665 MHz FM downlink and no access tone required. The transponder can carry a single FM voice channel or multiple simultaneous CW, FT4, or FT8 signals, with the first Wednesday of each month reserved for digital-mode experiments, and runs a duty cycle of four minutes on in every twelve. Additional experiments include a CODEC2 digital voice beacon, measurement of 30 MHz noise power in the upper ionosphere to validate the link budget, a radiation-measurement payload, evaluation of an electrically short receiving antenna, and validation of the energy-management scheme that makes it all work on so little power; telemetry runs at 800 bps and an uplink power of about 25 watts is recommended. HADES-L plans to launch with UARX from the United States in October 2026 into a 500 x 600 km, 97-degree orbit alongside UNNE-1B. The responsible operator is Jose Elias Diez, EB1AO.
• EagleSat A & B – Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), India (applied July 26). A pair of 1U CubeSats in the first batch of India’s 75 Student Satellites Mission (75SSM), the EagleSats will validate a student-developed CubeSat bus, demonstrate LoRa-based store-and-forward inter-satellite links – on 437.160 MHz between the two spacecraft and on 437.140 MHz with other 75SSM CubeSats – and fly student-designed luminosity sensors and a GNSS receiver feeding the attitude control system. For amateurs, each spacecraft implements a real-time AX.25 digipeater with a 435.170 MHz uplink and 436.547 MHz downlink, plus command-activated Robot36 SSTV demonstrations sent as packetized data over the 9600 bps GFSK downlink, and a beacon on 436.645 MHz invites public reception, with frame format and decoding documentation to be published. Because both satellites share a single ground station at MCEME, only one is commanded into digipeater or SSTV mode at a time. The pair is planning a launch on a Vikram launch vehicle from Sriharikota during September 22-30, 2026, into a 450 km, 60-degree orbit. The responsible operator is Nasser Hussain Dubey, VU3DUB.
• HG3PQSAT – Budapest University of Technology and Economics (applied July 27). Set to become the seventh Hungarian amateur and educational satellite built by university students – following Masat-1, SMOG-P, ATL-1, SMOG-1, MRC-100, and NMHH-1 – HG3PQSAT is a 3P PocketQube (5 x 5 x 15 cm) whose entire development team holds amateur licenses. Its payload list is ambitious: attitude control using both electromagnets and switched-reluctance-motor flywheels, a color imaging camera, GMSK digital telemetry beacons at up to 12.5 kbps, and both FSK and LoRa half-duplex repeaters that receive a signal from the ground and retransmit it seconds later on the same frequency, in the style of classic packet radio. The LoRa repeater is designed so amateurs can work it with nothing more than an omnidirectional antenna – no rotator tracking and no Doppler correction – at no more than 100 mW ERP, while the FSK repeater needs only a handheld FM transceiver, a small Yagi, and a laptop sound card running the team’s public software. A crossband digital repeater with a 437 MHz uplink and 2400 MHz downlink and an S-band LoRa downlink round out the communications suite, with deployable solar panels keeping it all fed. Deployment through Alba Orbital is planned. The responsible operator is Levente Dudas, HA7WEN.
• Solar Flare and Ionosphere Explorer (SoFIE) – Saint Francis University, Pennsylvania (applied July 27). A 3U CubeSat with a citizen-science mission tailor-made for amateurs, SoFIE will investigate how solar flares affect the ionosphere by observing HF radio burst emissions from the Sun while simultaneously collecting ground-based transmissions with a broadband 3-30 MHz receiver. The team is collaborating with the University of Scranton’s HamSCI initiative to coordinate transionospheric experiments with amateurs across multiple HF bands, and all HF data collected during the mission will be made freely available to hams through a HamSCI interface. A secondary 9.303 MHz topside-sounding instrument flies under a separate FCC Part 5 experimental license, while the primary links propose a UHF downlink with 9k6 BPSK AX.25 telemetry and a 1 Mbps QPSK S-band downlink. The filing anticipates a NASA launch into a 500 km polar orbit. The responsible operator is Kevin Suresh, KD3DHW.

Developers planning a mission are reminded to request coordination as early in the design process as possible, while frequencies can still be adjusted in response to the panel’s recommendations. Application forms and contact information are available at https://www.iaru.org/reference/satellites/, and the coordination status list is at https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/index.php

[ANS thanks the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel for the above information]

New Satellite Distance Records Claimed on AO-7, AO-123, and SO-125

Three newly claimed marks have been added to the AMSAT Satellite Distance Records, headlined by a new Mode A record on AO-7 set just days before this bulletin went to press – proof that a 51-year-old satellite can still deliver record-book DX.

On Wednesday, July 29, at 20:02 UTC, KE9AJ, operating from EN50fn59 in Illinois, worked DJ8EW in JN58wh92 in Germany through AO-7’s Mode A transponder – a 2-meter uplink paired with a 10-meter downlink – at a distance of 7,495 km (4,657 miles). The contact edges the previous Mode A record of 7,454 km, set between VE6WQ and F4DXV on March 23, 2022, by 41 km. Launched on November 15, 1974, AMSAT-OSCAR 7 is the world’s oldest active satellite, and its Mode A transponder harks back to the earliest days of the OSCAR program. The new claim gives KE9AJ a share of both AO-7 transponder records – the current Mode B mark of 8,204.592 km was set between F4DXV and KE9AJ on August 10, 2020 – alongside standing records on AO-91, AO-27, and SO-124.

The other two records share a path, and a distance. Operating the Croatian club station 9A1CAL from JN86dm82ud, 9A6WW twice worked A46UNX in Oman, in LL83gg, for contacts spanning 4,419 km (2,746 miles) – first through AO-123 on August 15, 2025, at 18:19 UTC, and again through SO-125 on October 31, 2025, at 20:08 UTC.

The AO-123 contact raises that satellite’s record by more than 1,800 km over the previous mark of 2,610 km, set between KK7OVF and WD5GRW in November 2024. ASRTU-OSCAR 123 (ASRTU-1), a joint student project of the Harbin Institute of Technology and Amur State University, was launched on a Soyuz vehicle from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome on November 4, 2024, and carries a V/U FM repeater, a UHF SSDV digital image transmitter, and a 10.5 GHz QPSK image downlink.

The SO-125 contact, meanwhile, is the first documented distance record for that satellite – and one that can no longer be beaten. HADES-ICM, a 1.5P PocketQube from AMSAT-EA measuring just 5 x 5 x 8 cm and weighing 400 grams, was launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission in March 2025 and provided an SDR-based FM voice and FSK digital repeater – 145.875 MHz up, 436.666 MHz down, no tone required, with up to 0.25 watts of downlink power – along with a low-power active graphene radiator experiment from University of Manchester spin-out SmartIR. The satellite re-entered the atmosphere on May 23, 2026, so the Croatia-to-Oman contact, a remarkable haul for a 400-gram QRP satellite, will stand permanently as SO-125’s distance record.

The full list of records may be found at https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/. Operators who complete a contact exceeding a listed mark, or a notable distance on a satellite or transponder not yet documented, are invited to email details to n8hm at arrl.net. Note that only real-time contacts are considered for distance records; QSOs completed across multiple orbits using store-and-forward techniques are not eligible. Distances are calculated using the calculator at k7fry.com/grid for consistency, and separate records may be claimed for each transponder or band combination a satellite supports, such as Mode A and Mode B on AO-7.

[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President, 9A6WW, and KE9AJ for the above information]

Zero Retries Digital Conference 2026 Issues Call for Technical Papers

Technical papers are being sought for the Proceedings of the second annual Zero Retries Digital Conference (ZRDC) 2026, to be held Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Roundhouse Conference Center in San Ramon, California. The conference coincides with the first day of Pacificon 2026.

Hosted by the Zero Retries newsletter, ZRDC seeks short (typically 5 to 10 pages, with a 12-page limit) but in-depth explanations of a project, experiment, or new technique. A typical paper describes the problem to be solved, how the solution was built and tested, and what was learned, often including diagrams, data, and code. Topic areas include digital satellite communication, software defined radio, digital voice and data systems, mesh and peer-to-peer wireless networking, APRS, LoRa in amateur radio, HF digital modes, AX.25 and other protocols, and more.

Authors do not need to present at the conference to have their papers included in the Proceedings, and authors retain all rights to their work. In addition to the ZRDC archives, papers will be preserved in the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC), a project of the Internet Archive.

The submission deadline is Monday, September 28, 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Papers must be submitted in PDF format via email to zrdcpapers [at] zeroretries.net. Complete details are available at https://www.zeroretries.org/p/conference

[ANS thanks Zero Retries and Amateur Radio Daily for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 31, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

There are no changes to this week’s TLE distribution.

General Perturbations Data Support

AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats including JSON, XML and KVN at https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php for details.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and we are very open to community feedback at webmaster at amsat.org. Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements. We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July 2026 indefinitely.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

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ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

Geneva Christian College, Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia telebridge via IK1SLD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ  

Contact is go for: Mon 2026-08-03 10:00:37 UTC 55 deg

Kenya Space Agency (KSA), Nairobi, Kenya, telebridge via ON4ISS

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS 
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is IZ2GOJ  

Contact is go for: Wed 2026-08-05 11:38:38 UTC 89 deg

Schedule of radio power downs and power ups 

COL=Columbus module  SM=Service Module

Wed 2026-08-05 11:50 UTC – COL radio power down

Wed 2026-08-05 11:55 UTC – SM radio power down

Thu 2026-08-06 – USOS EVA

Fri 2026-08-07 13:45 UTC – COL radio power up

N/A – SM radio power up

Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear them on the air—so keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.

Ham TV is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

August 14-16, 2026
Northeast HamXposition (HamX) & New England Division ARRL Convention
Best Western Royal Plaza & Trade Center
181 Boston Post Road W
Marlborough, MA 01752
W1EME, WD4ASW, WB1FJ
https://hamxposition.org

October 8-11, 2026
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Details to follow

Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Students are eligible for FREE membership up to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] amsat.org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002. AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT News Service

ANS-186
July 5, 2026

In this edition:

• AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Featured on Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
• MarmotSat: Student-Built Canadian CubeSat Brings Open-Source Amateur Experiments to VHF and 10 Meters
• OSCARLOCATOR Web Generator Turns Live Elements Into Printable Tracking Sheets
• Recent IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Activity
• Amateur Radio Payloads Aboard SpaceX Transporter-17
• AMSAT at Moon Day, Dallas – Saturday, July 18, 2026
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 5, 2026
• ARISS News
• AMSAT Ambassador Activities
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Featured on Ham Radio Workbench Podcast

AMSAT President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, is the featured guest on episode 266 of the Ham Radio Workbench podcast, released June 30, 2026, and available at https://www.hamradioworkbench.com/podcast. 

In a wide-ranging discussion, Glasbrenner talks with the Workbench crew about AMSAT and amateur radio in space, drawing on the operating and institutional perspective he brings as AMSAT President. The episode’s show notes point listeners toward a number of accessible on-ramps to satellite work, including the WA5VJB “Cheap Yagis” wooden-boom antenna design, Elk log-periodic antennas for satellite use, and AMSAT itself at https://www.amsat.org. The hosts also note that Glasbrenner is interested in hearing from potential payload providers, and that listeners inspired to get more involved can inquire about becoming an AMSAT Ambassador.

Recent AMSAT presentations have offered a preview of the themes Glasbrenner tends to cover. In appearances over the past several months he has described AMSAT as a volunteer, educational organization dating to 1969, highlighted the continued operation of AO-7 more than five decades after launch, and outlined the GOLF-TEE mission — a 3U CubeSat carrying a 30 kHz linear transponder, a 10 GHz high-speed experimental downlink, and improved three-axis attitude control. Listeners looking for an approachable introduction to where AMSAT is headed will find the Workbench episode a good place to start.

Give it a listen at https://www.hamradioworkbench.com/podcast.

[ANS thanks the Ham Radio Workbench podcast and Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President, for the above information]

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites. The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026 membership year.

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email. JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/ (Remember! Students join for FREE!)

OSCARLOCATOR Web Generator Turns Live Elements Into Printable Tracking Sheets

Following last week’s introduction of the browser-based OSCARLOCATOR Web Simulator, a companion tool is now online that closes the loop between the on-screen simulator and the classic paper tracker. The OSCARLOCATOR Web Generator, at https://oscarlocator-pdf.n8hm.radio, produces printable base-map, range-circle, and path-arc sheets — the physical components of the traditional OSCARLOCATOR — as vector PDFs generated entirely in the browser.

Like the simulator, the generator is the work of AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, and produces the same vector output as the OSCARLOCATOR export in his OrbitDeck desktop application. Nothing is uploaded to a server: the tool fetches only current AMSAT GP orbital elements and, if the operator asks, their location. It runs offline once loaded.

To build a set of sheets, the operator sets a station by Maidenhead grid square, by latitude and longitude, or via browser geolocation, then selects a satellite from a list populated automatically from AMSAT’s GP element data. The map projection can be a polar azimuthal-equidistant sheet — chosen automatically for the northern or southern hemisphere, or forced to North or South — or a QTH-centered azimuthal map. The output can be produced as a two-sheet set, pairing a base map with the range circle drawn at the operator’s station plus a separate path-arc transparency, and an option keeps the overlay transparencies free of text so all the how-to-use instructions live on the base map. An advanced panel allows manual entry of orbital elements — inclination, mean motion, eccentricity, argument of perigee, and RAAN — for cases where the operator wants to plot a specific orbit by hand, and provides an optional CORS-proxy override for fetching the AMSAT bulletin data.

Coastlines are drawn from Natural Earth 110m data. The sheets must be printed at 100% / actual size so that the base map and the transparency overlays register correctly when stacked. The result is a genuine, working paper tracker keyed to current elements — a satisfying bridge between the pre-computer era of satellite operating and modern on-demand data.

The OSCARLOCATOR Web Generator is available now at https://oscarlocator-pdf.n8hm.radio, and serves as a companion to the OSCARLOCATOR Simulator at https://oscarlocator.n8hm.radio.

[ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President, for the above information]

The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now Here! Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

Annual memberships start at only $120

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

Recent IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Activity

Every amateur satellite that expects to transmit in the amateur-satellite service bands is asked to obtain a frequency coordination from the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) before launch. The IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel reviews each request, checks the proposed frequencies against existing band plans and other coordinated missions, and — where the mission fits the definition of the amateur-satellite service and names a licensed amateur as the responsible operator — recommends frequencies intended to minimize mutual interference. The running status of applications is maintained on the AMSAT-UK-hosted status pages at https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/index.php, and it is worth a periodic look for operators who like to know what may be arriving on the bands.

Over roughly the past month the panel’s public status list has continued to turn over, with the two most recently updated entries both coming from long-running university programs in Europe.

The most recent update, dated June 23, 2026, is UPMSat-3, developed by the Instituto Universitario de Microgravedad “Ignacio Da Riva” (IDR) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). UPMSat-3 continues a program that reaches back to UPMSat-1 in 1995 and UPMSat-2 in 2020. The new spacecraft is a roughly 22-kilogram microsatellite — smaller than its predecessors but a substantial step up in capability — whose primary science mission is imaging of the cosmic microwave background, alongside a suite of low-cost in-orbit technology demonstrations for Spanish companies and research centers and continued work on attitude determination and control algorithms. UPMSat-3 has been selected to fly on the Isar Aerospace Spectrum launcher from Andøya, Norway, and the program continues to build hands-on engineering experience for students in UPM’s Master’s Degree in Space Systems (MUSE).

The panel’s prior update, dated June 4, 2026, is FramSat-1.5, a 3U CubeSat from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the student organization Orbit NTNU. FramSat is a scaled evolution of Orbit NTNU’s earlier SelfieSat, and the FramSat effort is closely tied to the ambition of launching “the first satellite from Norwegian soil” from the new spaceport at Andøya. FramSat carries a UHF amateur downlink — SatNOGS lists a 435.141 MHz 9k6 FSK (AX.25/G3RUH) transmitter marked IARU coordinated — supporting telemetry and an experimental sun-sensor payload built by students.

Both missions are representative of the bulk of IARU coordination traffic: student- and university-led educational spacecraft, most in low Earth orbit, that give the next generation of engineers direct experience with spacecraft communications while adding new signals for the amateur community to hunt. Developers planning a mission are reminded that coordination should be requested as early in the design process as possible, while frequencies can still be changed in response to the panel’s recommendations.

Application forms and contact information are available at https://www.iaru.org/reference/satellites/, and the coordination status list is at https://iaru.amsat-uk.org/index.php.

[ANS thanks the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel for the above information]

Amateur Radio Payloads Aboard SpaceX Transporter-17

SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, July 7, 2026, for the launch of its Transporter-17 dedicated rideshare mission, with a 95-minute window opening at 07:10 UTC (12:10 a.m. PDT) from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. A backup opportunity is available on July 8 at the same time. The Falcon 9 will carry a large collection of small satellites — deployment provider Exolaunch alone has manifested 49 spacecraft on the flight — into a sun-synchronous orbit, and among them are several carrying amateur radio payloads. As with all Transporter missions, deployments will be spaced out over a period of time after launch rather than occurring all at once, and it may be days or weeks before individual satellites are commissioned and heard.

As of this writing the full manifest is still being cataloged by the amateur community, and operators coordinating reception through the Libre Space Foundation’s SatNOGS network are working to add the new spacecraft and their transmitters to the SatNOGS database. Amateurs are encouraged to help by submitting satellite and transmitter suggestions. The confirmed amateur payloads with IARU-coordinated frequencies are summarized below; more may be identified as the manifest firms up.

MarmotSat

MarmotSat, the 3U CubeSat built by students at the University of Victoria Centre for Aerospace Research, is the headline amateur payload on the flight and is the subject of a separate feature in this issue. It carries the debut of the open-source Modular CubeSat Radio and supports four amateur experiments: a VHF digipeater and CW telemetry beacon on 145.875 MHz, a CW telemetry beacon and a DVB-S2 digital video beacon on 29.410 MHz, and a linear-frequency-modulation ionospheric-sounding downlink on 10 meters for amateur citizen scientists. Its IARU-coordinated downlinks are 29.410 MHz, 145.875 MHz, and 436.125 MHz (TT&C). The team hopes MarmotSat will become Canada’s first official OSCAR-designated satellite. See the full article elsewhere in this bulletin for details and for how to take part in commissioning.

Maveric

Maveric is a 3U CubeSat from the University of Southern California’s Space Engineering Research Center, with Anthony Planinac, K6FCF, as the responsible operator. The satellite carries two identical commercially available multispectral imagers, each of which will photograph an LCD screen positioned in front of the camera with the Earth and sky as a backdrop. The mission’s goals are a mix of science and technology development, including magnetic-field measurements and the testing of new algorithms for real-time onboard processing of optical imagery.

For amateurs, Maveric uses a 9,600 bps UHF downlink employing GMSK modulation with Golay framing. The IARU has coordinated a downlink on 437.575 MHz. The satellite is bound for an approximately 590 km polar orbit. Reception reports and telemetry decodes from the amateur community are, as always, valuable to the mission team during commissioning.

Other payloads of note

Also aboard Transporter-17 is LabSat IoT, a 34-cm CubeSat developed by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Palermo in Argentina, together with COPITEC and FUNDETEC. LabSat IoT is a technology-demonstration platform for satellite Internet-of-Things and cellular (NTN) connectivity to remote areas, using in-flight-reconfigurable software-defined radios. Its experiments operate in IoT and mobile-satellite bands rather than the amateur-satellite service, so while it is a noteworthy student-built spacecraft on the same flight, it is not an amateur radio mission and does not carry an IARU-coordinated amateur payload.

The mission also includes numerous commercial and government smallsats — among them Firesat-1, -2, and -3, and a wide range of Earth-observation and technology-demonstration spacecraft from more than twenty countries — that do not use amateur frequencies.

Operators wishing to receive the amateur payloads should watch for orbital elements to be published after deployment and match them to each spacecraft using the beacon signals. Frequency and status details for coordinated satellites can be confirmed on the IARU coordination status pages at https://iaru.amsat-uk.org, and reception can be coordinated through the SatNOGS network. ANS will report on successful deployments and the opening of the new satellites’ amateur payloads as information becomes available.

[ANS thanks SpaceX, Exolaunch, the IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel, the University of Victoria, the University of Southern California, and the Libre Space Foundation for the above information]

AMSAT at Moon Day, Dallas – Saturday, July 18, 2026

AMSAT Ambassador Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, writes:

“Hello AMSATters in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

“We are coming up quickly toward the annual STEM event held by the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field called ‘Moon Day.’ This year it will be Saturday, July 18th. Hours are from 10 AM to 4 PM. Always held around the time of the Apollo 11 moon landing, it is a fun public event showcasing astronomy, space science and technology, suitable for young and old alike. Last year it drew almost 1500 visitors. See https://flightmuseum.com/events/moonday/ for more information.

“I have been representing AMSAT and amateur radio satellites at Moon Day for many years now. We have an exhibit table right next to the Dallas Amateur Radio Club where we show off the AMSAT CubeSat Simulator, the Fox CubeSat engineering model, talk about orbits and footprints and this year, hope to have materials to hand out for kids from the AMSAT youth initiative, BuzzSat. Of course we feature the ISS as a great example of amateur radio in space. The CubeSat Simulator gives the ability to have a ‘Get your picture taken by a satellite’ photobooth experience. We also try to offer several voice satellite passes out in the parking lot to show off amateur radio space communications.

“Besides all the regular exhibits, attendees can attend various seminars and hear talks by astronauts.

“The museum has wonderful exhibits, including the Apollo 7 command module. This year there is a new exhibit on the Hindenburg which looks very interesting.”

[ANS thanks Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, AMSAT Ambassador, for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for July 3, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

There are no changes to this week’s TLE distribution.

General Perturbations Data Support

AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats including JSON, XML and KVN at https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php for details.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and we are very open to community feedback at webmaster at amsat.org. Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements. We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July 2026 indefinitely.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

Buying from DX Engineering?
Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order.Available for $30 from DX Engineering (free shipping on most orders over $99)
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/amt-satellites

ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

No contacts currently scheduled

Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear them on the air—so keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.

Ham TV is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

July 18, 2026
Moon Day
Frontiers of Flight Museum
6911 Lemmon Avenue
Dallas, TX 75209
https://flightmuseum.com/events/moonday/
N5HYP

October 8-11, 2026
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Details to follow

Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

+ AMSAT Field Day 2026 ran June 27–28 alongside the ARRL event. Operators enjoyed access to more than 10 transponders/repeaters. FM voice limited to one QSO per bird (including ISS); linear birds (AO-7, RS-44, etc.) supported multiple contacts. The ISS repeater was noted as one of the busiest “stations” during Field Day. Many operators reported successful satellite QSOs. Logs due to KK5DO by July 28. See https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ for submission details (ANS thanks AMSAT for the information)

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Students are eligible for FREE membership up to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] amsat.org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002. AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT News Service

ANS-158
June 7, 2026

In this edition:

• Deadline for Candidate Nominations for 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election is June 15
• HADES-SA / SpinnyOne Designated Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127)
• AMSAT Submits Letter of Intent for NASA SLS CubeSat Opportunity on Artemis III, IV, and V
• OscarWatch Tracker: A New Satellite Tracking Program from MM9SQL
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 5, 2026
• ARISS News
• AMSAT Ambassador Activities
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

Deadline for Candidate Nominations for 2026 AMSAT Board of Directors Election is June 15

The nomination period for the AMSAT 2026 Board of Directors election, which will take place during the third quarter of the year, ends on June 15, 2026.

Three director positions are set to expire in 2026. The current board members whose seats are up for election are:

• Mark Hammond, N8MH
• Bruce Paige, KK5DO
• Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

In addition to these three full Director roles, up to two Alternate Directors may also be elected to serve one-year terms.

To nominate a candidate, a written submission is required. Nominations must include the nominee’s name, call sign, and contact information, along with the same details for either five AMSAT members in good standing or one Member Society endorsing the candidate.

Nominations should be directed to the AMSAT Secretary:

Douglas Tabor, N6UA
1133 Verlan Way
Cheyenne, WY 82009

Per AMSAT’s bylaws, all nominations must follow the format specified by the Secretary. Doug Tabor has indicated that nominations will be accepted in both hard copy (via postal mail) and digital formats (including email or scanned documents). However, fax submissions are not permitted.

Email nominations should be sent to: dtabor [at] amsat [dot] org

All nomination petitions must be received by the Secretary no later than June 15. After the submission deadline, the Secretary will confirm the eligibility of each candidate and the supporting members or societies, with final notification to candidates provided by the end of June.

[ANS thanks Doug Tabor, N6UA, AMSAT Secretary, for the above information]

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites. The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026 membership year.

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email. JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/ (Remember! Students join for FREE!)

HADES-SA / SpinnyOne Designated Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127)

On March 30th, 2026, the HADES-SA/SpinnyONE satellite was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Developed by AMSAT-EA, the satellite carries an SSDV and CODEC2 payload for reception by amateur radio enthusiasts around the world. The satellite is actively transmitting images and messages now.

At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT hereby designates HADES-SA/SpinnyONE as Spain-OSCAR 127 (SO-127). We congratulate AMSAT-EA, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.

 

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President / OSCAR Number Administrator, for the above information]

The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now Here! Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

Annual memberships start at only $120

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

OscarWatch Tracker: A New Satellite Tracking Program from MM9SQL

A new multi-platform desktop satellite tracking application for amateur radio operators, OscarWatch Tracker, has been released and is under active development. Developed by Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, and hosted on GitHub, OscarWatch provides an integrated environment for tracking AMSAT and other amateur satellites, predicting passes, managing Doppler-corrected frequencies, and optionally automating rotator and radio control—all from a single map-centered interface.

Key Features

OscarWatch is tailored for VHF/UHF satellite operators working FM cubesats (e.g., SO-50, ISS), linear transponders (e.g., RS-44, FO-29), and similar modes. It assumes familiarity with basic concepts like azimuth, elevation, and Doppler but automates the calculations and hardware interactions to let operators focus on making contacts.

• Visual Tracking: World map with satellite subpoint, ground track, and footprint overlays (with optional motion arrows and greyline terminator). Includes a polar sky plot relative to your QTH. Support for time scrubbing to preview passes without affecting live hardware. Optional DX station grid marker with live Az/El from the remote location.
• Pass Predictions: List of upcoming passes with TCA (time of closest approach/max elevation), filters for minimum elevation and duration. Features include a pass planner with multi-station profiles and .ics calendar export, plus a mutual pass finder for two-station coordination.
• Frequency Management: Built-in transponder database with live Doppler-corrected uplink/downlink frequencies. Supports RX offsets (separate for Voice/CW on linear modes), CTCSS tones, and easy toggling between modes. Includes a transponder database editor for custom additions and updates from the published JSON source.
• Hardware Integration: Optional serial CAT control for supported radios (including Icom IC-910/9100/9700/705, Yaesu FT-847/817/818/991 series, Kenwood TS-2000 beta) with Doppler tracking, satellite/split modes, and CTCSS handling. Dual-radio support for full-duplex setups. Rotator control for Yaesu GS-232 and EasyComm-compatible controllers (including SPID), with manual park and smart azimuth options for 450° rotators.
• Additional Tools: Voice announcements for satellite rising, automatic pass WAV recording, Cloudlog integration for frequency logging, and live telemetry (Az/El, range, altitude).

OscarWatch does not decode telemetry or serve as primary logging software; it complements existing tools as a pass assistant for home or portable use. TLEs and the transponder database are sourced from tle.oscarwatch.org.

Getting Started

Pre-built binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux are available on the GitHub Releases page. After installation:

1. Configure your station location (lat/long/grid) in Settings.
2. Select desired satellites and refresh TLEs.
3. Set up radio and rotator COM ports if using automation.
4. Focus a satellite via the map or pass list to view live data and frequencies.

Detailed operator guides, keyboard shortcuts, and troubleshooting are included in the app’s Help menu and the repository’s help/ folder. Note that macOS users may need to approve the unsigned app and bundled libraries on first launch.

Supported Hardware Highlights

Radios (serial CAT, native drivers): Icom IC-910/9100/9700/705, Yaesu FT-847/817/818/991 series, Kenwood TS-2000 (beta), with dual-radio options. Rotators: Yaesu GS-232, EasyComm II (SPID/M2/etc.).

The project emphasizes custom native drivers for reliable satellite-specific behavior over general libraries like HamLib.

OscarWatch is still evolving rapidly (recent versions added in-app updates, multi-language support including Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Brazilian Portuguese, greyline overlays, mutual pass visualizer, and expanded rig/rotator support). Check the GitHub repository for the latest releases, source code, TODO list, and contribution opportunities.

For more information and to download: https://github.com/magicbug/OscarWatch-Tracker.

[ANS thanks Peter Goodhall, MM9SQL, for the above information]

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for June 5, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

There are no changes to this week’s TLE distribution.

General Perturbations Data Support

AMSAT is pleased to announce that modern forms of what are called General Perturbations data are being disseminated via modern formats including JSON, XML and KVN at https://newark192.amsat.org/gpdata/current/. The reason this change is being made is that we are running out of 5-digit catalog numbers and the TLE format is not viable for satellites launched after July of this year. See https://celestrak.org/NORAD/documentation/gp-data-formats.php for details.

These data are presently considered in beta test for the next two months while hosted on the test server newark192.amsat.org, and we are very open to community feedback at webmaster at amsat.org. Testers may experience outages and errors while we make improvements. We intend to put this into production on our main web server in July as we expect that satellites launched after this summer will require one of the new formats to accommodate longer object numbers. AMSAT will continue to publish TLE bulletins for satellites launched before July 2026 indefinitely.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

Buying from DX Engineering?
Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order.Available for $30 from DX Engineering (free shipping on most orders over $99)
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/amt-satellites

ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Collège Louis Aragon, Imphy, France, direct via F5KCH

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS 
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN  
The ARISS mentor is F6ICS   

Contact is go for: Mon 2026-06-08 13:31:48 UTC 86 deg

Geneva Christian College, Latrobe, Tasmania, Australia telebridge via VK4ISS

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD
The scheduled crewmember is Chris Williams KJ5GEW
The ARISS mentor is VK4KHZ  

Contact is go for: Tue 2026-06-09 08:30:56 UTC 85 deg

Many times, a school makes a last-minute decision to do a Livestream or runs into a last-minute glitch requiring a change of the URL, but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication. You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

The crossband repeater remains configured in the Columbus Module (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down). If a crewmember decides to pick up the microphone and turn up the volume, you may hear them on the air—so keep listening, as you never know when activity might occur.

​Kenwood D710GA in the Zvezda Service Module – Call sign RSØISS. Please note we’re still in the process of troubleshooting and testing this radio. APRS is currently active on 437.825 MHz. Feel free to check out status reports at https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/.

Ham TV is currently transmitting a test signal at 2395.00 MHz.

Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time.

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

October 8-11, 2026
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Details to follow

Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Students are eligible for FREE membership up to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] amsat.org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002. AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

AMSAT News Service

ANS-130
May 10, 2026

In this edition:

• AMSAT at Hamvention – AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Ticket Deadline – Monday, May 11th at 17:00 EDT
• March/April 2026 Issue of The AMSAT Journal Now Available
• ARISS SSTV Series 32 “Cooperation in Space and World Peace” Underway
• Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for April 10, 2026
• ARISS News
• AMSAT Ambassador Activities
• Satellite Shorts From All Over

The AMSAT® News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.

ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.

The news feed on https://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org

You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/

AMSAT at Hamvention – AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Ticket Deadline – Monday, May 11th at 17:00 EDT

The 2026 Dayton Hamvention will be held Friday through Sunday, May 15–17, 2026, at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. AMSAT will once again have a strong presence throughout the event, including booth activities, social gatherings, and the annual AMSAT Forum.

The 17th annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet will be held Friday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. EDT (18:30 EDT) at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio 45429, located approximately 20 minutes from the Greene County Fairgrounds. This dinner is a highlight of the TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) and AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) activities during Hamvention.

Ray Roberge, WA1CYB, will be the speaker at the 17th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet. Roberge, a member of AMSAT’s Engineering team, will speak about progress on AMSAT’s SDR Gen2 project, including what it does and where it can be used.

Tickets are $75 each and may be purchased through the AMSAT store. The deadline to purchase banquet tickets is Monday, May 11 at 17:00 EDT (21:00 UTC). Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the AMSAT booth or at the door. There will be no tickets available for pickup at the AMSAT booth. Tickets purchased online will be maintained on a list, with check-in at the door at the banquet center. Seating is limited to the number of meals reserved with the Kohler caterers based on ticket sales by the deadline. The annual AMSAT “Dinner at Tickets” gathering will take place Thursday, May 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EDT at Tickets Pub & Eatery, 7 W. Main Street, Fairborn, Ohio 45324. Telephone (937) 878-9022. This informal event features no program or speaker, offering an opportunity for conversation and camaraderie. All are welcome, regardless of participation in booth setup or operations. Food may be ordered from the menu, and drinks, including beer, wine, sodas, and iced tea, are available at the bar. No reservations are required.

AMSAT is seeking volunteers to assist at the AMSAT booth, located in Building 1, booths 1007–1010 and 1107–1110. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute as much time as they are able, whether for a few hours or the entire weekend. In 2025, approximately 20 volunteers supported AMSAT’s activities and engagement with attendees.

Those interested in volunteering or requesting additional information may contact Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Hamvention Team Leader, via email at w1eme [at] astrocom.net. Volunteer participation plays an important role in supporting AMSAT’s presence and outreach within the amateur radio community.

The AMSAT Forum will be held Saturday, May 16 from 1:50 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. EDT in Forum Room 2.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT Hamvention team for the above information]

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

AMSAT is offering a limited-time promotion for new and renewing members that includes a free digital copy of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites. The promotion is being offered as AMSAT begins the 2026 membership year.

Anyone who joins or renews their AMSAT membership during the promotional period will receive a download link for the latest edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites in their membership confirmation email. JOIN TODAY at https://launch.amsat.org/ (Remember! Students join for FREE!)

The 2026 President’s Club Coin is Now Here! Help Support GOLF and FoxPlus.

Annual memberships start at only $120

Join the AMSAT President’s Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/

Need new satellite antennas? Purchase M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store.

When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/

Changes to AMSAT TLE Distribution for May 8, 2026

Two Line Elements or TLEs, often referred to as Keplerian elements or keps in the amateur community, are the inputs to the SGP4 standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits used by most amateur tracking programs. Weekly updates are completely adequate for most amateur satellites. TLE bulletin files are updated daily in the first hour of the UTC day. New bulletin files will be posted immediately after reliable elements become available for new amateur satellites. More information may be found at https://www.amsat.org/keplerian-elements-resources/.

There are no changes to this week’s TLE distribution.

[ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, AMSAT Orbital Elements Manager, for the above information]

Buying from Ham Radio Outlet?
Add AMSAT’s Getting Started With Amateur Satellites to your order.

Available for $29.95 from HRO (free shipping on most orders over $100)
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-019238

ARISS News

Amateurs and others around the world may listen in on contacts between amateurs operating in schools and allowing students to interact with astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station. The downlink frequency on which to listen is 145.800 MHz worldwide.

Scheduled Contacts

Tobe Junior High School, Tobe, Japan, direct via JR5YED

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is 7M3TJZ/ JA1CJP/ MØXTD

Contact is go for: Tue 2026-05-12 09:28:25 UTC 68 deg

“Memorial Complex of Soviet Pilot-Cosmonaut A.G. Nikolaev”, Chuvashia, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR

Contact is go for Mon 2026-05-18 17:25 UTC 

N.I. Lobachevsky Lyceum and School No. 132, Kazan, Russia, direct via TBD

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS
The scheduled crewmember is Sergey Kud-Sverchkov
The ARISS mentor is RV3DR

Contact is for for Wed 2026-05-20 15:50 UTC

Many times a school may make a last minute decision to do a Livestream or run into a last minute glitch requiring a change of the URL but we at ARISS may not get the URL in time for publication.  You can always check https://live.ariss.org/ to see if a school is Livestreaming.

As always, if there is an EVA, a docking, or an undocking; the ARISS radios are turned off as part of the safety protocol.

The crossband repeater continues to be active (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down), If any crew member is so inclined, all they have to do is pick up the microphone, raise the volume up, and talk on the crossband repeater. So give a listen, you just never know. ​​Service Module radio: Not in APRS configuration; only being used for voice contacts at this time. Default mode is for​​​ packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down) but occasionally used for SSTV (145.800 MHz down)​​.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Ham TV – Configured. ​​ Default mode is for​​​ scheduled digital amateur television operations (2395.00 MHz). Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors for the above information]

Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get an AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store!

AMSAT Ambassador Activities

AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.

May 15-17, 2026
Dayton Hamvention
Greene County Fair and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road
Xenia 45385
https://hamvention.org/

October 8-11, 2026
44th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Membership Meeting
Crowne Plaza JAX Airport
14670 Duval Road
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Details to follow

Interested in becoming an AMSAT Ambassador? AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events. For more information go to: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

[ANS thanks Bo Lowrey, W4FCL, Director – AMSAT Ambassador Program, for the above information]

Satellite Shorts from All Over

Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:

• Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization).
• Students are eligible for FREE membership up to age 25.
• Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.

Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.

73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!

This week’s ANS Editor,

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
n8hm [at] amsat.org

ANS is a service of AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653, Washington, DC 20002. AMSAT is a registered trademark of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.